Glenn Warnes Posted 1 April , 2004 Share Posted 1 April , 2004 I am looking at doing a trip to the Somme/Ypres and am looking at "Battlefield Tours" any reports on there trips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 1 April , 2004 Share Posted 1 April , 2004 Do you mean http://www.battlefield-tours.com/ OR http://www.battlefieldtours.co.uk/ If the former, all their tours except a combined Iepers/Somme on 26-28 October are full up. This is a 3 dayer. I have been with them before, back a few years. James Power takes a VERY small group and provides a really personal service. Only criticism is that 3 days for this tour, Iepers/Somme, is very very short (see prevoius threads with you). Their self drive is, I have heard, really excellent. Quality and quantity of printed material is good. The latter is the War Research Society. I went with them 2 years ago to Iepers. Good guides and good guide/customer ratio, and a very extensive programme. 2 criticisms: - paper work very thin - a tour advertised as a 'battlefield walk' was not quite as such. Minimum walking, eg through Plugstreet Wood, and itinerary seemed to be around the survival of the least fit! Sorry about that comment but when the coach broke down for half a day, and I suggested that we go out to one of the WW1 areas by means other than the coach, I got some strange looks and we spent half a day in Iepers having had a period there already. Now- I don't 'do' organised tours. Good luck (again) Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Warnes Posted 1 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 1 April , 2004 Martin Thanks for that. Coming so far I want to ensure that I will get the best look at the area. battlefieldtours.co.uk have a package in October that looks ok. As far as interesting sights go what would be the best to see and explore on foot (I can walk, done the Kokoda Track). Sorry for all the questions!!! Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 2 April , 2004 Share Posted 2 April , 2004 Spider I hope that other Pals can come in to this conversation. I am really not as expert as many of them. The tour which I think that you mean covers Ypres & Somme and 'calling in' at Cambrai, Vimy & Loos. 3 nights/ 4 days. Seems like 3 actual days on site. All this including 'special visits' I think this is too much in too short a time. In and out of the coach like a Jack-in -the-Box. How much time do you really want to spend in Belgium/France, and what is the minimum you want to deal with? I think that given that information, the Pals here should be able to help you work something out. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 2 April , 2004 Share Posted 2 April , 2004 Spider Thoughts. You could walk the length of the original Somme front line as at 1 July 1916. There was a thread on this Forum about it a few months ago. It is 14+ miles and those who have done it say that they started very early a.m and finished early evening. BUT of course you would be walking when the nights are closing in. You could split the walk in half and stay overnight at halfway. Paul Reed would be able to give you more info. on this. Then you could go to Ypres, and use one of the many books to get around. Transport? Just random thoughts! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Warnes Posted 2 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 2 April , 2004 OK fellas help me out here!!!!!!!!!!!!! What sort of time frame? Transport? (hire car, tour......) I will be doing the Somme and Ypres, any other areas worth a look? Long way to come to miss out. Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 2 April , 2004 Share Posted 2 April , 2004 Spider OK If you really press me: Hire car (UK or France/Belgium) Drive to Somme area (many other posts on Forum about acommodation in Somme) Visit key areas-Gommecourt, Serre, Thiepval, High Wood, Fricourt/Mametz, Carnoy, Albert, Peronne. WALK. Many books available. (3 days) Possibly Cambrai Drive to Arras. Visit, plus tunnels. Go to Vimy Ridge- but main memorial will be closed? (1+ days). Drive to Ypres. Visit main sites including Plugstreet, Poperinghe (Talbot House), Hills 60/62(?), Passchendaele areas, Zonnebeke, Vancouver Corner and many many other. (3 days) Total say 1 week. After all, you might not go this way again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Warnes Posted 3 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2004 GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for that, I have thought about hiring a vehicle (after speaking to a work colleague) who suggested that I hire a car and drive /walk the area. May well be the best option. I believe that the sights/areas are easy to follow and not that spread out, as you can see one sight to the next. Any preferred time, mid week or weekends? I will do some checking on hire cars and see how I go. I can fly from Oz to London via Paris giving me two stopovers in France. May be able to do the battlefields and then Armistice Day in Ypres, which I believe is worth the trip. I can then spend some time in UK and do some family research etc. Cheers Glenn (spider) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlington Posted 3 April , 2004 Share Posted 3 April , 2004 Glenn Recommend you get the 2 books by Major & Mrs Holt- Battlefield Guide to the Somme & ditto Ypres. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Warnes Posted 3 April , 2004 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2004 Thanks for the replys, I will do some costings etc and look at my best options. Cheers Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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